Summer Awards 2021 - feedback from our winners across high streets, housing and master-planning

Turkish Kebab Shop in Hales Street, Coventry - after restoration (Historic England / Historic Coventry Trust)

Future Cities Forum has been receiving feedback following the announcement of our Summer Awards 2021. Below we share some of the comments sent to us.

There were seven awards given across the built environment covering Master planning, High Streets, Net Zero, Culture, Housing, Infrastructure and Science Cities. Entries chosen by Future Cities Forum were judged by an all-female panel of council chief executives, architects, and planners. See our panel names on our awards page.

Turkish Kebab Shop in Hales Street, Coventry (before restoration by Historic England / Historic Coventry Trust and professionals including architects Costorphine + Wright).

HIGH STREETS - Winner: The Burges, Coventry (which includes Hales Street and Palmer Lane)

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England said:

"We are delighted that the transformation of the Burges has been recognised in the Future Cities Forum Summer 2021 Awards. The success of the project demonstrates how heritage-led regeneration can lead to economic, social and aesthetic improvements for high streets, and is something which Historic England is applying to all 67 participating high streets in our High Street Heritage Action Zone programme. The restoration would not have been possible without the hard work of Historic Coventry Trust, a key partner who ran the scheme on the ground alongside the local BID and Coventry City Council. As one of the few areas in Coventry to survive the Blitz, the Burges is full of once hidden historical character. Now this £2m project has revealed the historic high street for people to enjoy for years to come."

Carol Pyrah, Executive Director of Historic Coventry Trust said:

"All the project team are absolutely thrilled to have won the High Streets category in the Summer Future Cities Forum Awards 2021 for our transformation of the Burges and Hales Street in Coventry. The award is a tribute to the fantastic local businesses we worked with and the skill of the contractors and the professional team. It has been a true collaboration between Historic Coventry Trust, Coventry BID, Coventry City Council and Historic England, and there is more to come – so watch this space!"

Cllr Jim O'Boyle, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Coventry City Council said: "I'm delighted with this award for the transformation of the Burges. The scheme is an important part of the Council's wider regeneration and has brought new life to this traditional high street area. This is an achievement in our ground-breaking partnership with Historic Coventry Trust and gives another great reason for people to visit the city."

View over River Ouseburn, Newcastle to Steenberg's Yard - the winner in the housing category (developed by PfP Igloo as part of a development agreement with Newcastle City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency / building design by Xsite Architecture / engineering, acoustics and planning by Cundall)

HOUSING - Winner: Steenberg's Yard, Lower Ouseburn Valley

Peter Connolly, Chief Executive at igloo Regeneration commented:

We are pleased to have won this Future Cities Forum 2021 award in the housing category . Our sales are progressing well at Steenberg's Yard, and we only have 3 left to sell. Our customers know that igloo's approach to design development means that the details are considered carefully. Our homes are designed around our customers, considering their health and wellbeing as well as how they will live (and often work) from home – especially so in the current climate. We also carefully consider how neighbours will interact and get to know each other and through this they will build a sense of community. Awards can be the embodiment of this, in a simple statement of being an award winner can capture the care we take in designing homes in great neighbourhoods.

'Living in the Landscape' illustration for Peabody's green infrastructure strategy for Thamesmead - a blueprint for how natural systems can change lives for the better, and launched in partnership with LDA Design, and developed with specialist support from Continuum Sport and Leisure, Gary Grant and Green Infrastructure Consultancy, David Withycombe and Land Management Services, architects Project Orange, engineers SNC-Lavalin, and Vivid Economics.

MASTER PLANNING - Winner: Living in the Landscape - Thamesmead, London

John Lewis, Executive Director Thamesmead at Peabody said:

A unique part of Peabody's role in Thamesmead is managing the extensive landscape of parks, greenspaces, woods, lakes and canals. With over 250 hectares of greenspace, 5 lakes and 7 kilometres of canals, it is a remarkable place for residents and visitors alike. Our new 30 year green infrastructure strategy, Living in the Landscape, sets out a framework for how we will actively manage this fantastic natural environment for the long-term. Post pandemic, there is an opportunity to really make the most of the green and blue assets for people and the planet, and for Thamesmead to become a sustainable new town for London. We are pleased that the Future Cities Forum panel has recognised our stewardship and whole place approach to regeneration in the town."

You may also want to link to the Living in the Landscape film which really brings the project to life I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hTRhKMPlgY